Page 111 of Sharkbait
“Iris.”
“Iris,” I repeat. “How old is she?”
“She’s six.”
“Six years old.” I shake my head and go silent for a few moments.
“Louise, if you’re going to break up with me, please open the door so you can do it to my face.”
That’s it.
“We can’t break up if we never were together!” I say as I fling open the door.
And find him still shirtless and in his boxers.
“Would you please put some clothes on?”
“Mabel and Wally went back to his place to give us some privacy.”
“That won’t be necessary since you’re leaving.” I charge past him into the living room, grab his jeans and T-shirt, and shove them into his chest.
He dutifully slides his pants on, and like a love-sick idiot, I watch him.
How does he manage to make putting clothes on look sexy?
Focus, Louise.
“So what do you do, James? Hide her from all the women you date?”
“No. I do not.” He pulls his shirt over his head. “You are the first woman I’ve dated in seven years. And yes, we have been dating. That’s what they call what we’ve been doing, whether you want to admit it or not.”
“Seven years? I call bullshit.”
He blows out a puff of air. “Louise, I am trying very hard to keep my cool right now.”
“So am I!”
“No. You’re not. You’re jumping to conclusions, and you’re assuming the worst of me. You’re also being damn insulting by insinuating I’m somehow ashamed of my daughter.”
“Aren’t you, though? Daughters are such a buzzkill for dads! Especially when they’re young and have so many inconvenient needs! Believe me, I should know.”
“Baby.” He reaches for me.
“Don’t call me baby.”
He takes a deep breath.
His brown eyes pour into mine.
“I’m sorry for the dad you had growing up, Lou. You deserved so much better. But my situation with Iris couldn’t be more different. I promise you that. And if you could just find a way to calm down and listen to me, I will tell you everything.”
“You should have told me right away.”
“When?” he huffs. “When you declared that all single dads are the enemy and incapable of holding down a relationship? Or when we first met, and you told me you were only using me forsex and didn’t want to know anything about me?”
I stumble over my words. “That’s… that’s—”
“Exactly what you said, Louise.” He fills in the blank for me.
